The armed forces in the Antilles (FAA) are fully involved in Operation RESILIENCE. In order to provide the best response to the health crisis, a force shift maneuver is necessary in order to anticipate and prevent the spread of the pandemic on all of the French Antilles islands in support of the prefectural and health authorities.
A detachment of French FAA soldiers, composed of two sections of 33rd Marine infantry regiment (RIMa), is currently embarked on the overseas support and assistance building (BSAOM) Dumont d'Urville in the direction of the island of Saint-Martin where it will be deployed to participate in the fight against the covid-19 epidemic.
Particularly qualified, the soldiers of 33rd RIMa will be able to provide additional means of logistical support and mobility for the benefit of the Prefecture and State services. They will be able to complete the territorial network and inform the populations in support of the island's administrations and health structures.
Equipped with competent logistics and equipped with suitable vehicles, the detachment is able to respond to requests for the transport of equipment and support the population and the civil authorities. It is also able to coordinate the distribution of local production of hydro-alcoholic liquid, from its distribution to its inventory management, for example.
These reinforcements will also prepare the organization of the disembarkation and transport of freight currently on board the amphibious helicopter carrier (PHA) Diksmuide. They will be able to set up the medical evacuation station (PME), coming from mainland France, which would be installed upstream of the hospital in the event of a worsening health situation.
For the record, the 33e RIMa intervened in the Bahamas last year, during cyclone Dorian, and it regularly carries out presence missions on the island. The regiment has had a culture of rescuing populations for many years after projection by amphibious ship.
The context of covid-19 required the implementation of strong measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to barrier gestures and respect for social distancing measures, all soldiers from 33rd RIMa applied strict confinement fourteen days before their arrival on Saint-Martin.
The 1200 FAA soldiers engage with the population by providing their support, skills, resources and know-how to the civil authorities of Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy; while ensuring the maintenance of their operational aptitude, in order to continue their missions of protection of the French.
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